Improved alarm gage-cock for steam-boilers



H. WILKINS- Alarm Gage for Stem Boilers.

Patented April 19, 1864.

[We]; Jar.-

may.

N msns' mmmo n m. Wnhington. n. c.

FFICE.

ATENT HENRY WILKINS, OF BROWNSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42.425, dated April 19, 1864.

To all. whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY WILKINs, of Brownsville, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and Improved Alarm Water-Gage for Steam- Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the foll wing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, said drawing representing an elevation of the gage partly in section.

This invention consists in combining an ordinary gage-cock or suitable valve applied to the boiler just below the intended water level with a cam operated by a clock-movemeiit or other device for producing rotary motion, in such manner that the said cam shall produce the opening of the said cook or valve periodically, and so indicate by the sound of the issuing water or steam whether the water is above or below the said cock.

To enable others skilled in the art. to make and use my invention, 1 will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the head of a boiler.

B is the socket of the gage-cock, secured in the boiler-head in the usual manner at a suitablelevel; and O is the valve.

D is a clock-movement firmly secured on the top of the boiler or to any other suitablyarranged fixed support.

E is the cam, attached to one of the shafts of the said movement and deriving a con-' stant rotary motion therefrom.

F is a lever arranged to work on a suitablyarranged fixed fulcrum, a, and'havin g one end connected with the stem 0 of the valve 0, and

the other end suitably arranged to be operated upon by the cam in such manner as to produce the opening of the valve at regular periods-say every quarter of an hour--keep it open for a short time, and afterward allow it to be closed, either by the pressure of the steam or by other suitable means.

Every time the valve is opened either water or steam issues, according as the level of the water in the boiler is above orbelow it, and in case of steam issuing the sound produced makes it known to the engineer and to other persons, even at aconsiderabledistance, that the waterlevel is not up to a proper height before it can get too low to be dangerous. The gage is well adapted for steamboats, as it makes known to the captain and officers when the feed-pumps have failed to act, or the condition of the boiler, owing to the neglect of the engineer or fireman, is becoming unsafe.

The cam may be double and two levers applied in connection with it to act upon two gage-cocks or valves at different levels.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Combining a gage-cock or valve, applied to a steam-boiler, with a cam or its equivalent, operated by a clock-movement or other de vice for producing rotary motion, in such manner that the said cam or equivalent shall produce the periodical opening of the said cook or valve, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

HENRY WILKINS.

Witnesses:

R. M. SMITH, THOMAS I. WALSH. 

